The Sahara Desert Gets Snow Occasionally

The surreal image of white snow blanketing orange sand dunes is a powerful reminder of how complex weather can be. While deserts are defined by their lack of precipitation, not by constant heat, the Sahara's ability to get cold is a key part of this phenomenon. The dry air and clear skies that allow for scorching daytime temperatures also permit that heat to escape rapidly at night. This massive temperature swing, known as high diurnal range, can easily send nighttime temperatures below freezing, especially in higher altitude regions.

For snow to actually fall, however, this cold air must meet with moisture, which is the truly rare ingredient. The most common cause is a high-pressure weather system over Europe pushing a mass of cold, and slightly moist, air much further south than it would normally travel. When this air is forced to rise by land features like the Atlas Mountains in Algeria, the moisture condenses and falls as snow onto the freezing desert below. This is why the town of Ain Sefra has become famous for the phenomenon, with documented snowfalls in 1979, 2016, 2018, and 2021. The snow rarely lasts long, melting as soon as the powerful sun rises, but its brief appearance creates a truly unforgettable landscape.